Valuer Defends Self

By Anne MugisaTHE interdicted chief government valuer, Nsamba Gayiiya, has challenged ethics and integrity minister Miria Matembe to prove that he engaged in shady valuations in which government lost money.Gayiiya said Matembe should state clearly if she is qualified to make such accusations or if she has any report that is criminalising him.“The law is very clear. Since you have made the allegations, bring forward the evidence,” Gayiiya said in a statement.Gayiiya was interdicted about three weeks ago over the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) purchase of Udyam House at an exorbitant sh9.7b. He valued the building at that amount while other valuers put it at sh6.6b, according to government.The New Vision on February 23 quoted Matembe as saying Gayiiya had been involved in other cases where the Government was led to buy property at inflated prices.She also said when the Government wanted to sell off its property, Gayiiya undervalued it.Matembe cited different cases including the controversial Customs House, which URA rented from Sudhir Ruparelia at an inflated cost and the Government flats at Kololo, which Gayiiya valued at sh200m.She said a private buyer was to buy Udyam House at US$h3.5m, but was surprised to hear that NSSF had bought it at sh9.7b.But Gayiiya said Parliament investigated the Customs House saga and he was not implicated in any wrongdoing. He said as far as the Kololo flats were concerned, he valued them like all pool houses countrywide.“The only difference was that the flats on Elizabeth Avenue were valued following a court order. I never undervalued these flats as insinuated by you (Matembe),” Gayiiya said.Gayiiya who asked the Public Service Commission and the Permanent Secretary to protect him, said Udyam House was still a subject of inquiry by the Surveyors Registration Board.Ends